Grape box



Sept. 1, 1959 J. v. MANNERS GRAPE BOX -s Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2,1956 INVENTOR. Jo /v KMAA/A/ii J. V. MANNERS GRAPE BOX Sept. 1, 1959 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2, 1956 a 7R mm W E N W M 0 NM n K M J Sept.1, 1959 J. v.- MANNERS GRAPE BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 2, 1956INVENTOR. Ja /v K NANA/5P5 Arron 5Y5 United States Patent OT 2,902,200GRAPE BOX Application October 2, 1956, Serial No. 613,428 1 Claim. (Cl.229-16) This invention relates to cardboard box construction, andparticularly to a set-up box especially suitable for packaging grapesand similar products.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a box structurewhich may be readily set up from a blank cut from sheet material, toeffectively package grapes and similar products for display and sale,and to guard the product from tampering and unnecessary handling.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a box which may bereadily set up mechanically or by hand with a closure that may beeffectively locked in closed position after the box is packed.

Another object is to provide a box in which the closure of the box formsthe bottom of the package to permit display of the contents inattractive arrangement through a windowed top.

A further object is to provide a box structure in which interfoldedflaps and edge strips stably support a bottom closure in a recessedposition relative to bottom edges of the side and end walls of the box.

A further object is to provide a box structure in which tabs struck fromthe body portion of central and selected wall panels of the box, whenfolded to set-up relation, are interengageable with apertures formed bythe displace ment of other tabs from other panels, displacement of thetabs from the plane of the panels from which they are cut serving thedouble purpose of providing locking means and ventilating openings alongthe fold lines of the box.

A still further object is to provide a box structure in which lockingstrips along the edges of Wall panels strongly reinforce and stabilizethe set-up box, while effectively locking the wall panels in set-uprelation.

Other objects include the minimizing of cost, the increasing ofruggedness and stability, and the facilitation of packaging andsealing-in of products for display.

These and other objects, some of which will be more fully explainedhereinafter, are accomplished by means of the Idevice disclosed in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of the present specification. It isunderstood that the invention is not limited to the details of theillustrative embodiment selected for illustration in the drawings as thedetails may be varied and the invention otherwise embodied Within thescope of the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank cut from sheet material for forming thebox of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing some of the parts moved to theirset-up relation, andillustrating the manner in which other parts aremovable to set-up relation;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the set-up box, showing the closureseated in inwandlyoffset position to provide a recessed bottom; a

Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of the set-up box, showing the provision ofwindowed top and side panels;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View of the box, the plane of thesection being indicated by the line 5-5 of Patented Sept. 1, 1959 Fig. 4and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the box as viewedupon the planeindicated by the line 6-6 of Fig." 4 in the direction indicated;

'Fig.'-7- is'a fragmental detail showing the manner in which the closureis seated in recessed closing relation to the side and front walls ofthe box; and

Fig. 8 is a similar fragmental detail showing the parts locked in finalclosed relation.

In terms of broad inclusion, the box of the present invention comprisesa blank cut from cardboard or other suitable sheet material shaped andcreased to define panels, flaps, tabs,'and hinge and locking stripsarranged to be set up mechanically or by hand to form a box havingapanel inset inwardly from the plane of the adjacent edges of the sideand end walls to provide a recessed closure which, as illustrated,preferably forms the bottom of the set-up box. The end and one of theside walls are provided with locking strips inwardly foldable overoutturned reinforcing strips formed upon the corresponding edges of theclosure panel. Tabs attached to the locking strips engage openings alongthe lines of fold of adjacent portions of the blank, the openingsserving the double purpose of providing a locking means and aventilating means. Means, as, for example, a tab struck inwardly from awall panel forms a seat, engageable by a portion of the closure, tosupport the unattached edge of the closure panel in its inset recessedposition, when locked in its closed relation. The invention alsocontemplates the provision of window openings in the central top paneland selected wall panels for displaying; products packed in the set-upbox. The windows may be covered by transparent sheet material to protectthe contents from tampering by prospective purchasers, and a reinforcingstay may be provided to strengthen the box over the windowed areasthereof.

In terms of greater. detail, the box of the present invention comprisesa blank, designated in general by the numeral 10, cut and creased fromsheet material, such as cardboard or its equivalent, in accordance withconventional practice. As illustrated in Fig. l, the blank is cut andcreased to provide a central panel 11, a pair of end panels 12 and 13, apair of side panels 14 and 15 for forming the front and back walls ofthe box respectively, and a closure panel 16 of a size and shapesubstantially matching the central panel 11.

The central panel 11 is defined by crease lines 17 and 18 which extendlongitudinally substantially from one end of the blank to the other, andwhich also define the inner ends of the end panels 12 and 13, and theouter ends of the front, back and closure panels 14, 15 and 16,respectively. The front and back panels 14 and 15 are joined to thecentral panel 11 along crease lines 19 and 20, respectively;

The closure panel 16 is joined to the back panel 15 by a hinge strip 21,which is connected to the back panel along a line of fold 22 and to theclosure panel along a line of fold 23. Tabs 24 are formed along the foldline 23, said tabs being severed from the adjacent edge portion of theclosure panel by cuts 25. The tabs 24 are joined to the hinge stripalong uncreased areas interrupting the fold line 23. When folded toset-up position, the tabs 24 remain in the same plane with the hingestrip 21; and, as they are displaced from the edges of the closure, theyform openings 26 along the line of fold, as best shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings.

Edge strips27 are formed upon the ends of the closure panel-116, andarejjoined-thereto by continuations of the openings in the set-upcarton. Also, a similar edge strip 31 is joined to the outer edge of theclosure panel 16 along a fold line 32, which is interrupted at intervalsalong its length to permit the. formation of tabs 33, severed from theadjacent edge of the panel by cuts 34, and displaceable therefrom toprovide locking and ventilating openings 35. The edge strips 27 and 31are of a width conforming to that of the hinge strip 21, and areoutwardly foldable to lie in proximate relation to the inner surfaces ofthe end and front wall panels in the set-up box.

Flaps 36 and 37 are formed upon the ends, of the front and back panels14 and 15, respectively, and are attached thereto along continuations ofthe crease lines 17 and 18. Tabs 38 are severed from the front and backpanels by cuts 39, the tabs being displaceable by movement of the flapsabout the crease lines 17 and 18 to provide locking openings 40. Theflaps 36 and 37 are severed from the adjacent edges of the end panels 12and 13 by lines of severance 41 cut through the thickness of the blankso that the flaps may be infolded to lie against the inside faces of theend panels when they, in turn, are swung about the crease lines 17 and18 to set-up position.

Locking strips 42 are attached to the outer ends of the end panels 12and 13 along lines of fold 43. Tabs 44 are formed upon the ends of thestrips 42 for locking engagement with the openings 40. The strips 42 arearranged to be doubled inwardly over the edges of the flaps 36 and 37,when they are inturned across the ends of the box as it is set up. Thetabs 44 spring into the openings and eifectively lock the side and endpanels in their erected positions normal to the central panel 11.

The front panel 14 is provided with a tab 45 struck inwardly therefromby a cut 46. A locking strip 47 is formed upon the outer edge of thefront panel 14, to which it is attached, along a line of fold 48.Locking tabs '49 are formed upon the outer edge of the strip 47 atpoints corresponding to openings 35 which are formed in the edge of theclosure panel by displacement of the tabs 33.

If desired, for the purpose of displaying products packaged in the boxof the present invention, window openings 50 may be cut in the centralpanel 11, and if desired, the window openings may be extended into thefront and back panels 14 and 15. As illustrated, a pair of windowopenings 50, of more or less triangular shape, are separated by adiagonal band 51 which serves to strengthen the box. The band 51 alsoprovides central anchorage for a sheet of transparent material 52,attached to the the front and back side wall panels 14 and 15 upwardlyto substantially right angular relation to the central panel 11. Theflaps 36 and 37 are then swung inwardly about the crease lines 17 and18, and the end panels 12 and 13 are swung to their normal uprightpositions. The

edge strips 42 are then infolded over the upper edges of the flaps 36and 37, and the tabs 44 are sprung into locking engagement with theopenings 40, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The edge strips42, when doubled inwardly to locking position, hold the wall panelsfirmly in their set-up relationship, and effectively reinforce andstrengthen the box along its then open face.

The closure panel 16 is swung to its closing position about the foldlines 22 and 23, the hinge strip being in folded to lie against the backwall 15' and support the attached edge of the closure in an inwardlyoffset position. As the closure panel is moved to its closed position,the edge strips 27 and 31 are folded to extend outwardly and lie againstthe inner surfaces of the end and front wall panels. The free edge ofthe closure is supported by the tab 45, which is sprung inwardly toadmit the central tab 33 of the edge strip 31, as the closure is movedto its closed position. While the tab 45 is shown at the center of thefront panel, it may of course be otherwise positioned; or one or moresimilar tabs may be otherwise positioned in the front and/ or in. theend wall panels if desired.

The closure is finally locked in its closed position by infolding thelocking strip 47 over the edge strip 31 and springing the tabs 49 intothe openings 35 formed by displacement of tabs 33 from the plane of theclosure panel, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings.

To facilitate the infolding of the hinge strip 21 and the edge strips 27and 31, the lines of fold on which they are bent to set up the box maybe perforated. Also, the fold lines 43 along which the locking strips 42are infolded are preferably perforated so that the strips will lie fiatagainst the adjacent wall panels with a minimum of bowing or distortion.

As illustrated, the box of this invention is designed to permit it to befilled from the bottom, with the product, such as grapes, arranged toprovide an attractive display through the window openings 50. Whenlocked in its closed position, the closure provides a recessed bottomwhich facilitates the stacking of boxes, and gives stability to stacksof substantial height. The windows 50, of course, may be omitted, orthey may be otherwise positioned, to meet the requirements of differentpackers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

A box for packaging products, such as grapes, comprising a blank cutfrom sheet material and creased for folding into a set-up box form, saidblank including a central panel, side and end wall panels foldablyjoined to the central panel, a closure panel matching the central panel,a hinge strip connecting the closure panel to a wall panel, said hingestrip being foldable inwardly to position the closure panel in inwardlyoffset relation to the edge of said wall panel, an edge strip on theclosure panel on the side thereof opposite said hinge strip, said edgestrip being of a width conforming to said hinge strip and beingoutwardly foldable along a crease line joining said edge strip to saidclosure panel, said edge strip having in.- turning tab portions cut fromthe body portion of the closure panel and arranged to be displacedinwardly as the edge strip is folded outwardly to form apertures in saidclosure panel along said crease line, a seating tab inwardly struck fromthe wall opposite the wall to which the closure panel is hinged, saidseating tab being engageable by an inturned tab portion on said closurepanel edge strip and extending outwardly through the aperture formedthereby to limit movement of said closure panel towards said centralpanel, and a locking strip foldably attached to the wall opposite saidhinge strip and of a width substantially equal to the width of saidhinge strip, said locking strip being provided with lugs interlockinglyengageable with said apertures in said closure panel when said closurepanel edge strip seats on said seating tab, to prevent movement of saidclosure panel away from said central panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS804,151 Miner Nov. 7, 1905 1,587,602 Plautz June 8, 1926 1,862,855 HoodJune 14, 1932 1,940,336 Sutherland W Dec. 19, 1933 1,978,626 Gault Oct.30, 1934 2,153,333 Lowey Apr. 4, 1939 2,726,803 Ketler Dec. 13, 1955

